League One round-up: Ayr and Morton ease to victory

A ROUND-UP of the latest action from League One.

Stirling 1 Ayr United 3

BRIAN GILMOUR stood out as Ayr maintained their table-topping form – but admits he might not play the starring role again.

Gilmour pulled the strings for Mark Roberts’ side in a more advanced role than normal, scoring once and setting up two goals for talented teen Alan Forrest.

Gilmour said: “It’s not a brand new role for me as I played it in Finland and Iceland. But I’m not sure if the manager will do it again as we always like to mix things up and keep opponents guessing.

“We have other midfielders who can push up. We want to attack and push teams as far towards their own goal as possible.”

United took the lead after five minutes. Trickery from Gilmour at the edge of the box saw him slip clear of Craig Wedderburn and allow Forrest to roll the ball home.

Stirling should have had the chance to level when Gordon Smith was held back in the box by Martyn Campbell but ref Mat Northcroft surprisingly saw no foul. And things got worse for Albion in 56 minutes. Gilmour again slipped the ball to Forrest who side-stepped his marker then curled a left-foot shot home.

Albion did hit back in 66 minutes when Martyn Campbell needlessly handled from a corner and Gordon Smith blasted home the penalty.

But three minutes later it was 3-1, Gilmour sweeping the ball home from six yards after Kevin McKinlay flicked on a corner.

Stirling boss Greig McDonald said: “It was a bad day for us and we looked like rabbits caught in headlights. We should have had a penalty in the first half but overall we got what we deserved.”

Morton 4 Stranraer 0

JIM DUFFY savoured his side’s thrashing of nine-man Stranraer. But the Morton boss acknowledged the match hinged on Blues keeper David Mitchell being dismissed for the penalty opener after 19 minutes.

Duffy said: “We played well but there’s no disguising it, the red card gave us a goal and an extra man and we took advantage of it. But to score four and keep a clean sheet is very pleasing.”

Mitchell was dismissed after knocking over Declan McManus. Sub keeper Chris Fahey came on but McManus fired home the spot-kick.

Jamie McCluskey increased the Ton’s lead with a fine goal after 32 minutes. And just before half-time McManus grabbed a third with a curling shot.

Connor Pepper battered in a terrific fourth in 56 minutes. And with 13 minutes left, Stranraer’s Barry Russell was sent off for a second yellow.

Airdrie 0 Peterhead 2

JIM MCINALLY claims his Peterhead players were puzzled by Airdrie sinner Keigan Parker’s decision to dive when clean through on goal.

Two goals in four minutes from Andy Rodgers and David Cox earned the Blue Toon the win.

Parker was shown the red card early in the second half, after ref Gavin Duncan sent him packing for a second bookable offence after ruling he’d dived.

McInally said: “I can only go by what my players have said and they couldn’t understand why their boy has dived. I don’t understand why he did it but I’m glad he did. We could have been 1-0 down but all of a sudden we were playing 10 men.”

The visitors broke the deadlock on 73 minutes when Rodgers fire home, before sub Cox netted the second.

Diamonds gaffer Gary Bollan: “Keigan was clean through. But I’ll be reserving judgment on the sending off until I see it again.”

Brechin 1 Stenhousemuir 0

BRECHIN CITY manager Ray McKinnon was delighted with the win but reckoned his side could have been more clinical.

He said: “I’m pleased but we need a bit more composure in front of goal.”

Alan Trouten scored the winner a couple of minutes before half-time after a quick free-kick from Craig Molloy.